Notification of inspections
1. The Commission shall give at least two months’ notice of an inspection to the appropriate authority in whose territory it is to be conducted.
2. A pre-inspection questionnaire for completion by the appropriate authority shall, where appropriate, be communicated at the same time as the notice of the inspection, along with a request for any relevant documentation. The completed questionnaire and any requested documentation shall be submitted to the Commission at least two weeks before the inspection is scheduled to begin.
3. Where the Commission has information suggesting the existence at an airport of deficiencies which may have a significant impact on the overall level of aviation security in the Community, the appropriate authority of the Member State concerned shall be consulted and the period of prior notice of an inspection may then be reduced to two weeks. In this case, paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall not apply.
Preparation of inspections
1. Commission inspectors shall undertake preparatory activities in order to ensure efficiency, accuracy and consistency of inspections.
2. The appropriate authority shall be provided with the names of the Commission inspectors mandated to conduct an inspection, along with other details as appropriate.
3. For each inspection the appropriate authority shall designate a coordinator who shall make the practical arrangements associated with the inspection activity to be undertaken. Member States shall provide the name and contact details of the coordinator to the Commission within three weeks of receipt of the inspection notification.
Conduct of inspections
1. Commission inspectors shall conduct inspections in an efficient and effective manner, with due regard for their own and others’ safety and security. Commission inspectors whose behaviour during an inspection fails to meet these standards may be excluded from further Commission inspections.
2. A standard methodology shall be used to monitor compliance with the civil aviation security requirements laid down in Regulation (EC) No 300/2008.
The conduct of inspections shall be based on a systematic gathering of information using one or more of the following techniques:
(a)
observations;
(b)
verifications;
(c)
interviews;
(d)
examination of documents; and
(e)
tests.
3. Commission inspectors shall be accompanied by a representative of the appropriate authority when carrying out inspection activities. The conduct of the escort shall not prejudice the efficiency or effectiveness of the inspection activities.
4. Commission inspectors shall carry an identity card authorising inspections on behalf of the Commission and an airport identification card allowing access to all areas required for the inspection. The format of the airport identification card shall not prejudice the efficiency or effectiveness of the inspection activities.
5. Tests shall only be performed after advance notification to and in close coordination with the appropriate authority.
6. Member States shall ensure that Commission inspectors are authorised to carry items to be used for testing purposes, including those that are, or have the appearance of, prohibited articles, in any area to which access is required during the course of an inspection and when in transit to or from an inspection, in accordance with any agreed protocols.
7. The appropriate authority shall be informed as soon as practicable of any serious deficiencies identified during a Commission inspection. In addition and without prejudice to Article 10, Commission inspectors shall, wherever practicable, provide an informal oral summary of their findings on the spot at the conclusion of the inspection.
Inspection report
1. Within six weeks of completion of an inspection, an inspection report shall be communicated by the Commission to the appropriate authority.
The appropriate authority shall promptly convey the relevant findings to the inspected airport, operators or entities.
2. The report shall set out the findings of the inspectors including any deficiencies identified. The report may contain recommendations for remedial action.
3. When assessing the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 300/2008, the following classifications shall apply:
(a)
fully compliant;
(b)
compliant, but improvement desirable;
(c)
not compliant;
(d)
not compliant, with serious deficiencies;
(e)
not applicable;
(f)
not confirmed.
Answer of the appropriate authority
1. Within three months of the date of dispatch of an inspection report, the appropriate authority shall submit in writing to the Commission an answer to the report which:
(a)
addresses the findings and recommendations;
(b)
provides an action plan, specifying actions and deadlines, to remedy any identified deficiencies.
2. In case of a follow-up inspection, the answer of the appropriate authority shall be submitted within six weeks of the date of dispatch of the inspection report.
3. Where the inspection report identifies no deficiencies, no answer shall be required.
Rectification of deficiencies
1. The rectification of deficiencies identified during inspections shall be implemented promptly. Where the rectification cannot take place promptly, compensatory measures shall be implemented.
2. The appropriate authority shall confirm the rectification of the deficiencies to the Commission in writing. Such confirmation shall be based on compliance monitoring activities performed by the appropriate authority.
3. The appropriate authority shall be informed when an inspection report is deemed to require no further action.
Follow-up inspections
1. Following receipt of the appropriate authority’s answer and any further clarification required, the Commission may conduct a follow-up inspection.
2. An appropriate authority shall be given at least two weeks’ notice of a follow-up inspection to be conducted on its territory.
3. The main focus of follow-up inspections shall be the areas where deficiencies were identified during the initial Commission inspection.
Source: EUR-Lex (Publications Office of the EU), © European Union, reuse permitted under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.
